met -o
"The most wonderful things
about living here are all the
opportunities and activities."
— Helen Weingarden,
enjoying life at
Fox Run
since 2002
Weighing The Options from page 10
better fit. We belong to Temple Israel,
and he learned some Hebrew there,
but, after one year of intensive Hebrew
at the Academy, he walks around the
house saying Hebrew phrases."
Nationally, the perceived quality
of public education is a major factor
driving enrollment in non-Orthodox
Jewish day schools, JESNA!s Sylvan
said. The cost of day school education
is the other major factor. When the
two collide, other solutions crop up.
For some parents, especially in
South Florida and New York, charter
Hebrew day schools offer a compro-
mise, he said. These publicly funded
schools teach the Hebrew language
and, often, secular aspects of Jewish
culture. "Parents feel they can get an
education that's not exactly Jewish
education, but it is Hebrew and it's
affordable," Sylvan said.
Neither Sylvan nor local day school
administrators see any movement
toward charter Hebrew day schools in
Michigan.
"I don't think the concept of Hebrew
charter schools has a value for our
community:' said Freedman. "I don't
hear much about it, and I don't think
our community would support it. We
have several Jewish day schools that
provide an excellent education, and
Metropolitan Detroit's Jewish commu-
nity is stronger than most in support-
School Aid Cuts
When it comes to choices, no retirement community
offers more variety than Fox Run in Novi. There are over 130
groups and activities to explore right on campus. So whether
you like golfing or gardening, book club or bridge, you're sure
to meet friendly, energetic neighbors who share your interests
and passions.
Discover how Fox Run's maintenance-free lifestyle gives you
back the time and energy to do the things
you love to do. Call 1-800-917-3026
for your free brochure.
Er de-5 eh.
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LIVING
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EricksonLiving.com
ing day school education."
Those who wish to attend day
schools generally find financial aid
when needed, administrators say.
Educating four children at Hillel
would not have been possible with-
out tuition assistance, Adelson said.
And Elissa Barpel said her daughter,
Noga, who transferred to FJA from
Birmingham's Seaholm High School,
was guaranteed a scholarship for her
entire high school career.
Requests for financial assistance
continue to increase at Yeshivah
Beth Yehudah, Mayerfeld said. "The
Yeshivah's policy is that no family is
Andrew Weiss, 10, of West
Bloomfield and Ari Mattler, 11, of
Bloomfield Hills walk to class.
State Representative Ellen Cogan Lipton, (D-Huntington Woods), sees
more district-wide budget cuts for the next school year.
On May 25, 2011, Gov. Rick Snyder signed the 2011-2012 budget,
which cut $340 from the per-pupil allotment for children attending
Michigan's K-12 public schools.
"This is on top of the $170 per-pupil cuts imposed last year," said
Lipton, whose district includes Huntington Woods, Pleasant Ridge,
Ferndale, Hazel Park and parts of Oak Park. "In my opinion, this is a
devastating budget. It's heartbreaking."
The School Aid Fund will end this fiscal year with a surplus of $670
million, Lipton said. However, next year's budget will, for the first time,
make the fund responsible for grants to community colleges and state
universities. This translates into a $1 billion hit to K-12 financing.
Lipton and most of her fellow Democratic legislators feel the trans-
fer of funds violates the terms of Proposal A, the 1994 law governing
public school funding.
A limited amount of additional money would be available for K-12
schools, adding an extra $100 per pupil to districts that compete to
meet and excel at five economic "best practices." Lipton said many
districts already have reduced their budgets as specified in the best
practices. Even so, they may not be chosen to receive the competitive
grants.
According to state budget office per-district estimates, each
Oakland County school district would lose somewhere between
$800,000 and nearly $3 million in state funding, Lipton said.
Based on projected enrollments and current per-pupil grants, the
Berkley Schools will see a 2011-2012 state funding cut estimated
at $832,898; the Birmingham Public Schools will lose an estimat-
ed $1,299,011; Bloomfield Hills, $881,082; Farmington, $2,137,193;
Southfield, $1,941,311; Walled Lake, $2,952,851; and West Bloomfield,
$1,236,547. LI